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Steven May Article

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Excellent, wide ranging interview .... Maysie 'wears his heart on his sleeve'. I absolutely love the wholehearted way he has embraced the Dees.

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    That was a great interview 

    Barrett asked some great questions 

    We got a good one...

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    May means business. If all our players played with his heart we would be close to premiership favourites.

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    25 minutes ago, dl4e said:

    May means business. If all our players played with his heart we would be close to premiership favourites.

    Hopefully he can instill the high standards needed, particularly to our younger players 

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    How quickly perceptions change. 12 months ago most dees fans had Steven May penciled in as a botched trade that cost us a shot at drafting Ben King.

    As an aside, MFC have been blessed with some insanely tough Indigenous footballers. May, Jetta, Whelan and Pickett x 2 could not be further from the stereotype that Indigenous footballers need to be fast, evasive small forwards that rely on natural talent rather than hard work to make it in the AFL.

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    I was impressed with his attitude when he got pinged for HTB in the last qtr. Had a smile, gave his opponent a well done pat and went back to vigorously defend. Showed he’s really enjoying his footy and his head is in a really good space (IMO).

    Well done to the club on the Hogan/May trade. We’ve got a ripper.

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    It’s difficult to compare players from different eras. Over the last 50 years, we have had many great defenders. 

    However, I can’t recall watching a performance as dominating as that of Steven May. Yes, it was a poor opponent with a dysfunctional forward line, but even so, Mays game was incredible. His instinct for the game was evident over 4Q. He knew where to go, he knew when to mark, he knew when to punch, he knew when to defend and he knew when to attack. He stood calm and resolute every time the ball came in his direction. There was no panic or rushed decision making. His ball handling was always sure and decisive. And that long penetrating stabbing drop punt was something to drool over. Have we ever had someone that has played with the confidence and certainty of May. 

    Its rare for a supporter particularly this one,  to relax, knowing that every time the ball went into our defensive zone, May was there like the Rock of Gibraltar standing tall, with the ability and agility to return the ball like a slingshot into our forward half. His ability, style and presence make other players stand tall.

    It was a wonderful feeling to watch a player in the red and blue be so dominant. You know that Tiger fans must feel the same way about Dusty. It’s a good feeling. 

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    The Steven May - Damian Barrett interview is a gem. 10 minutes well spent.  Whilst I've watched many instances of May inspire on the field, (especially last Saturday against Freo) I've learnt from this interview that May shows he can be equally inspiring off the paddock. May's honesty, determination and courage gives hope for the immediate and long-term future of the MFC. His influence will go a long way to forging us a long awaited premiership.

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    May is our best defender since Tassie Johnson. But good players always seem like heroes when you’re a kid and my memories of Tassie are from when I was 10. Maybe May is even better than Tassie.

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    13 minutes ago, Fanatique Demon said:

    May is our best defender since Tassie Johnson. But good players always seem like heroes when you’re a kid and my memories of Tassie are from when I was 10. Maybe May is even better than Tassie.

    As a player, May is better than Tassie (was) but they had many, many similarities and fine qualities in common. Don't forget some of the great backmen across the scarred plank of the backline that we, perhaps, are overlooking. Gary Hardeman was similarly unique and a tremendous player, with several trades producing some greats like Icke, for example - and who could forget the early Neitz? There were plenty across several decades who proved to be phantastique. 

    Onyer, Maysie ... highly respected. At present across the League, you're the best.

     

    Edited by Deemania since 56

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    4 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

    May is our best defender since Tassie Johnson. But good players always seem like heroes when you’re a kid and my memories of Tassie are from when I was 10. Maybe May is even better than Tassie.

    Similar types. Tassie played tall and like May seemed to have an uncanny knack when to mark and when to punch. Perfect timing you might say.

    May is more attacking than Tassie but it’s a very different game. And ground conditions at times were atrocious. Like May, Tassie was a beautiful kick, but, more often than not, a long penetrating drop kick compared to Mays raking drop punt.

    Tassie could give it and receive it. However, I can’t remember him being reported as his aggression was tempered and measured. 

    Tassie was rarely beaten over a whole match. The great Hawks full forward John Peck who dealt out physical punishment like lollies never tried the rough stuff with Tassie out of respect for him and also knew that a Tassie punch might just find it’s way to his head. Pecky hated playing against Tassie.

    Tassie like May read the play beautifully always being in the right spot. 

    Tassie like May could be played across the ground. Norm Smith used him at Full Back, Centre Half Back. Centre Half Forward and in his last few seasons, in the ruck. A short ruckman at 6.2 he was able to position his body to negate taller rucks tap work. From memory Tassie lined up in the ruck in the 64 flag team. 

    Tassie was a good looking coot with black hair and movie star looks.  Steven also looks pretty good in the eye of old Ernie.

    Tassie was solid at ground level but May is quicker and more agile. 

    Gee it’s a good comparison but Tassie ended up playing in 3 premierships and captaining the side in 69. So was a bloody legend. 

    Sadly, he had a long period of illness before he died 5 or 6 years ago. 

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    Lovely post there, Ernie.

    When I was a kid, I had two huge Mobil posters on my bedroom wall.  One was my hero Hassa Mann (had his number 29 on my very first footy jumper) and the other was the esteemed Tassie Johnson.

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    9 minutes ago, demonstone said:

    Lovely post there, Ernie.

    When I was a kid, I had two huge Mobil posters on my bedroom wall.  One was my hero Hassa Mann (had his number 29 on my very first footy jumper) and the other was the esteemed Tassie Johnson.

    Yep I can identify with your feelings. Both simply great players and epitomised the Demons at that time. 29 & 8.

    Despite his greatness, I decided against wearing Rons number because every kid seemed to wear 31, choosing Big Bob Johnson 16 and when he left the club, my mother turned the 6 into a 9 to avoid buying a new jumper.  9 being Brian Dixon who was an uncanny and remarkable footballer. A wingman then, we would call him an insider mid today and with his long arms he had an uncanny knack of extracting the pill from a pack of players. A left footer he kicked the ball about 30m but always kept the ball moving forward. 

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    2 hours ago, hemingway said:

    Similar types. Tassie played tall and like May seemed to have an uncanny knack when to mark and when to punch. Perfect timing you might say.

    May is more attacking than Tassie but it’s a very different game. And ground conditions at times were atrocious. Like May, Tassie was a beautiful kick, but, more often than not, a long penetrating drop kick compared to Mays raking drop punt.

    Tassie could give it and receive it. However, I can’t remember him being reported as his aggression was tempered and measured. 

    Tassie was rarely beaten over a whole match. The great Hawks full forward John Peck who dealt out physical punishment like lollies never tried the rough stuff with Tassie out of respect for him and also knew that a Tassie punch might just find it’s way to his head. Pecky hated playing against Tassie.

    Tassie like May read the play beautifully always being in the right spot. 

    Tassie like May could be played across the ground. Norm Smith used him at Full Back, Centre Half Back. Centre Half Forward and in his last few seasons, in the ruck. A short ruckman at 6.2 he was able to position his body to negate taller rucks tap work. From memory Tassie lined up in the ruck in the 64 flag team. 

    Tassie was a good looking coot with black hair and movie star looks.  Steven also looks pretty good in the eye of old Ernie.

    Tassie was solid at ground level but May is quicker and more agile. 

    Gee it’s a good comparison but Tassie ended up playing in 3 premierships and captaining the side in 69. So was a bloody legend. 

    Sadly, he had a long period of illness before he died 5 or 6 years ago. 

    Great article and saw many Tassie games 1959-1969. 
     

    Still think our backline can get better With Riv improving and if Petty is st CHB snd we don't need him on the forward line. 
    Tommy MAC would also be a standout if moved back at any stage.

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    May has all the attributes, he's quick, can mark, he's strong, he has a good footy IQ and he can kick.

    His attitude seems exemplarary. Hopefully he can lift the standards for all our players.

    Hes a beauty

     

     

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    Potential vice captain alongside Max next year, with Viney, Tracc in leadership group 

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